British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak takes Russia's invasion of Ukraine as seriously as former British Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine Melinda Simmons said, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“I don't think anyone could accuse Rishi Sunak of not prioritising the invasion or not thinking that it's important. He has quite important domestic economic issues that he must pay attention to, which he's doing. But I have no sense that he's taking this invasion any less seriously, than either Liz Truss or Boris Johnson,” Simmons said.
She mentioned that Sunak called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his first day in office. That was the first foreign leader that he called.
“That was his own choice to do that. I think it sent a very important message of continuity. I don't have any concern about Rishi Sunak’s commitment. I don't think that will change at all in terms of our policy for the future,” Simmons believes.
She drew attention to the fact that Sunak was the British Chancellor at the time of the invasion and before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it was the Treasury that played a leading role in imposing sanctions.
“They work very closely with the Foreign Office on it, but it is their lead, and the UK has sanctioned more individuals and entities than anyone else in the world. We're up to 1200 individuals, about 120 entities. That also includes Iranian individuals and entities associated with the drone programme,” the ambassador said.
Simmons expressed confidence that Sunak will be willing and ready to come to Ukraine as soon as he is able to do so.
“I'm not going to comment on timings for a Prime Minister visit for security reasons, frankly. But I imagine that he will want to be ready to come as soon as he's able to do so,” she said.